The Watch: Omega Seamaster 14704 SC-61 (1961)
This reference 14704 SC-61 houses the caliber 591 automatic movement, part of Omega’s evolution into mid-century, thin-profile automatic watches. With 20 jewels, a bidirectional winding rotor, and a smooth sweep, the 591 represents the refinement of Omega’s pre-COSC movements before the later chronometer-grade calibers dominated the lineup.
The dial is particularly striking: an “Explorer” style 3-6-9 layout, reminiscent of tool watches of the era but paired here with the elegant Seamaster script. The patinated lume plots at the numerals and dagger indices reflect natural aging, a prized trait for collectors today.
The case, stamped 14704 SC-61, is stainless steel with a screw-down Seahorse caseback, engraved with the emblem that became synonymous with the Seamaster line. The crown carries the correct Ω logo, and the overall design balances utility with understated mid-century elegance.
From the Dirty Dozen to the Seamaster
Omega’s connection to military tool watches runs deep. During World War II, Omega supplied thousands of wristwatches to the British Ministry of Defence, including their contribution to the famed “Dirty Dozen” issued to the Allied forces. Those watches were simple, durable, and resistant to the harsh conditions of war.
Post-war, Omega leveraged this military expertise when launching the Seamaster line in 1948, designed as a civilian waterproof watch with military DNA. The early Seamasters borrowed from the hermetically sealed cases and durable construction developed during wartime. The 14704 carries this lineage forward—rugged enough for daily wear, yet elegant enough for post-war prosperity.
The Bonklip Bracelet: WW2 Innovation, Postwar Utility
The Bonklip bracelet, first patented in the 1920s and popularized through the 1930s–40s, was widely used by RAF pilots and military personnel during World War II. Its stainless steel ladder-link design offered several advantages:
-
Lightweight and breathable in hot, humid climates.
-
Instant adjustability, allowing the bracelet to be worn over uniforms.
-
Corrosion resistance, crucial in tropical deployments.
For these reasons, Bonklip bracelets became synonymous with military-issued tool watches.
Pairing a 1961 Seamaster with a Bonklip bracelet is period-correct and historically meaningful. While leather straps often degraded in tropical service, Bonklip bracelets endured. Collectors today appreciate the practical elegance of this combination, which ties directly back to Omega’s wartime legacy.
Technical Specifications
-
Reference: Omega Seamaster 14704 SC-61
-
Year: 1961
-
Movement: Omega Cal. 591, automatic, 20 jewels
-
Case: Stainless steel, screw-down Seahorse caseback
-
Dial: Explorer-style 3-6-9 dial with applied indices, luminous plots
-
Crystal: Acrylic (hesalite)
-
Bracelet: Bonklip stainless steel
A Watch of Continuity
This Seamaster tells a story: from Omega’s wartime production of robust tool watches, through the civilian boom of the Seamaster line, to the enduring practicality of the Bonklip bracelet. It is a piece where history, engineering, and aesthetics converge—a mid-century timepiece that remains as practical today as it was over sixty years ago.
Images above: The crisp white dial with Explorer numerals, the copper-toned cal. 591 movement, the Seahorse caseback, and the period-correct Bonklip bracelet advertisement and patent drawing.
